Beinn Bhreac

Rising above the eastern shores of Loch Awe near Ardchonnell, this prominent Marilyn offers a rugged, pathless ascent through classic Argyll moorland. While modest in height, its isolated position provides an exceptional vantage point over the long stretch of the loch and the sprawling granite peaks of the Cruachan range to the north.

• •The name is derived from the Gaelic Beinn Bhreac, translating to 'speckled' or 'dappled mountain,' a descriptive term often used to denote hills with a mottled surface of scree, heather, and grass.
• •From the summit trig pillar, the view north is dominated by the massive twin peaks of Ben Cruachan and Stob Dearg, which appear particularly imposing when viewed across the deep trough of Loch Awe.
• •The hill is frequently climbed from the narrow road near Ardchonnell, passing close to the 13th-century ruins of Ardchonnell Castle, the ancient ancestral seat of the Clan Campbell, situated on a nearby island in the loch.
• •While the 'speckled' name suggests a visual delight, the terrain underfoot is more likely to be a consistent, uniform shade of saturated peat bog for much of the year.